Electrophile Definition

By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on July 03, 2019

Definition: An electrophile is an atom or molecule that accepts an electron pair to make a covalent bond.

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Also Known As: Lewis acid

Examples: H+ is an electrophile. It can accept a pair of electrons from the Lewis base OH- to form H2O.

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Electrophile Definition." ThoughtCo, Jun. 25, 2024, thoughtco.com/definition-of-electrophile-605076. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2024, June 25). Electrophile Definition. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-electrophile-605076 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Electrophile Definition." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-electrophile-605076 (accessed July 20, 2024).